Peggle Nights Game Review by Sarah Guy
Game Rating = 5/5 Balls
Download Free Game Trial
Windows
Mac
Peggle Nights, an arcade-style computer game developed by Popcap Games, is a welcome sequel to the original Peggle. Peggle Nights offers pinball style game-play, following a formula that is nearly identical to that of its predecessor.
Download Free Game Trial
Windows
Mac
Game play
The player is enrolled in the “Peggle Institute,” where he or she must complete 60 levels of increasing difficulty. Each group of five levels is themed according to the “Peggle Master” who governs them, and each master offers a different special ability which becomes available when a green peg has been hit.
For a fairly simple game concept, Peggle Nights is surprisingly addictive. The player controls a device at the top of the screen, which does a 180 degree swivel and shoots pinballs. The player must aim carefully, because after shooting the ball, they have no further control over it unless certain special abilities have been activated. The object of each level varies depending on which mode you are playing, but is usually to eliminate all the orange pegs while accumulating as many points as possible. Once a player has unlocked each level by defeating it in “Adventure” mode, it’s eligible for play in the other modes. “Quick Play” allows the player to try any unlocked level using any unlocked Peggle Master. The “Duel” mode offers an opportunity to compete against the computer on a specific level. The “Challenge” mode can only be accessed after completing Stage 3 of Adventure mode. In “Challenge” mode the player must meet specific requirements, such as clearing extra orange pegs or reaching a certain point threshold, in order to complete a level.
Download Free Game Trial
Windows
Mac
Graphics
The graphics in Peggle Nights are very similar to those in the original game. The colors are more muted, as befits the night-theme. I found the background graphics on each level to be more dynamic in this sequel than in original Peggle. Some of the backgrounds incorporate movement, and they are more story-oriented. Where, in the original game, I found the level back drops mostly unnoticeable, in Peggle Nights I found myself interested in studying them for hidden details.
Sound
The sound in Peggle Nights is pleasant and fitting for the game play. You probably won’t find yourself exclaiming in amazement over the background music, but you will find yourself humming it under your breath unconsciously after a few hours of game play!
Download Free Game Trial
Windows
Mac
Creativity and Innovation
Peggle Nights contrasts with the original Peggle in that it is set at night, and all the Peggle Masters don their alter egos in their dreams. The concept is cute, particularly if you are familiar with the original game, but it’s not a particularly innovative departure from its predecessor. For instance, Bjorn, the unicorn head professor of the institute, becomes a caped and masked superhero in the Peggle Night dream world; however, his Super Guide power remains the same. When viewed next to the original Peggle, Peggle Nights is really just more of the same, with slightly different packaging and new levels to master. However, when you’ve got a winning formula, why change it?
Peggle Nights retains all the addictive fun of its predecessor and will provide hours and hours of fun for either the Peggle enthusiast or the Peggle newbie. Peggle Nights is easy enough for a child to play, but challenging enough, due to the varying goals set in different modes, to keep an adult entertained for hours. I give Peggle Nights a 5/5 rating, and will probably purchase two copies, one for each computer, so my husband and I don’t have to fight over playing it!
